Constituent Assembly

CARACAS, Venezuela - Barred by electoral authorities from hosting his Sunday morning radio show, President Hugo Chavez sent three of his top advisers to replace him as host and then called in as a listener. The National Electoral Council last week fined Chavez $7,700 and pulled the plug on his weekly radio and TV programs, saying he was illegally using them to promote candidates for the July 25 election for a constituent assembly.

KATMANDU, NEPAL---Nepal's governing assembly elected the country's first president Monday, rejecting a candidate backed by former Maoist rebels and creating political uncertainty for the new republic. The Constituent Assembly elected Ram Baran Yadav, a physician from the Madheshi ethnic community in southern Nepal, which has been campaigning for greater rights and more say in the administration, assembly Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung announced. Yadav's victory was a blow for the Maoists, who won the most seats in the assembly in April elections and hope to form the country's new government with one of their members as prime minister.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Voters have approved President Hugo Chavez's plan for a new constitution. But a flagging economy and Chavez's penchant for alienating potential allies threaten to derail the former coup leader's dream of transforming the country. In Sunday's nationwide referendum, nearly 90 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of Chavez's proposal to form a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution - the centerpiece of his agenda for a ``social revolution'' in Venezuela. But with 60 percent of the 11 million eligible voters staying away from the polls, the results were less than a ringing endorsement.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Barred by electoral authorities from hosting his Sunday morning radio show, President Hugo Chavez sent three of his top advisers to replace him as host and then called in as a listener. The National Electoral Council last week fined Chavez $7,700 and pulled the plug on his weekly radio and TV programs, saying he was illegally using them to promote candidates for the July 25 election for a constituent assembly.

Negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk's government on a non-racial constitution should begin by the end of the month, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela said Wednesday. The white government and black opposition groups hope to start talks Nov. 29 on a constitution that would extend voting rights to the black majority. ''We are prepared to sit around the table with everybody who wishes to make a positive contribution toward the success of the conference,'' Mandela said. The ANC wants an interim government and a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution.

General elections have been postponed by one week, from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3. Why: Nov. 1 is All Saints Day, an important holiday, and the government was concerned about turnout. The elections will be the first in almost four years. In case no presidential candidate wins a majority, a runoff will be held Dec. 8. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal will run the election. It also was in charge when 78.2 percent of registered voters turned out last July to elect a Constituent Assembly. That body is writing a constitution that will go into effect with the inauguration of the president on Jan. 14, 1986.

FARMERS FIGHT BACK. Some government officials have warned that the choice in Brazil is between land reform and peasant revolt. President Jose Sarney promised to resettle 1.4 million families by 1989, gradually splitting up the country's vast, undeveloped estates. Fewer than 20,000 families have been helped so far. An estimated 40,000 landowners descended on the capital Friday to have their say. Their aim: to pressure the Constituent Assembly to omit land reform from the constitution being drawn up.

Resign. That was the word brought to Gen. Oscar Mejia Victores, Guatemala's chief of state, by three leading members of the Constituent Assembly. ''This is what all the people of Guatemala want,'' said German Scheel Montes, one of the legislators. There was no indication that Mejia would comply, and the assembly has no way of compelling him to. His chief of staff, Gen. Rodolfo Lobos Zamora, said rumors of an imminent change in leadership were ''absolutely not true.'' Guatemala was torn by violence last week.

NEW CONSTITUTION. Brazil's president would serve five years. His power would be restricted, and there would be a prime minister. This is a provision of a draft of the new constitution to replace the one imposed during the military dictatorship of 1964-85. President Jose Sarney said he will do all he can to defeat the proposal. ''We cannot have a separation of power between the heads of government and state. Power must be kept united,'' he said. Members of the Constituent Assembly, which is preparing the constitution, are evenly divided between supporters of presidential and parliamentary systems.

NEW CONSTITUTION. The president will share power with a prime minister. The voters will choose the president, who can serve one five-year term. The National Assembly will select the prime minister from among members of the party holding the most seats. These are provisions of a new constitution for Haiti approved by a constituent assembly. A referendum is scheduled for March 29. ''This is the first time Haitian people will really get to decide what kind of government they will have,'' said Guy Latortue, one of the assembly's 60 members.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Voters have approved President Hugo Chavez's plan for a new constitution. But a flagging economy and Chavez's penchant for alienating potential allies threaten to derail the former coup leader's dream of transforming the country. In Sunday's nationwide referendum, nearly 90 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of Chavez's proposal to form a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution - the centerpiece of his agenda for a ``social revolution'' in Venezuela. But with 60 percent of the 11 million eligible voters staying away from the polls, the results were less than a ringing endorsement.

Negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk's government on a non-racial constitution should begin by the end of the month, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela said Wednesday. The white government and black opposition groups hope to start talks Nov. 29 on a constitution that would extend voting rights to the black majority. ''We are prepared to sit around the table with everybody who wishes to make a positive contribution toward the success of the conference,'' Mandela said. The ANC wants an interim government and a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution.

NEW CONSTITUTION. Brazil's president would serve five years. His power would be restricted, and there would be a prime minister. This is a provision of a draft of the new constitution to replace the one imposed during the military dictatorship of 1964-85. President Jose Sarney said he will do all he can to defeat the proposal. ''We cannot have a separation of power between the heads of government and state. Power must be kept united,'' he said. Members of the Constituent Assembly, which is preparing the constitution, are evenly divided between supporters of presidential and parliamentary systems.

SCIENCE PROJECT. Brazilian scientists are leading a campaign to write a ''ban the bomb'' clause into the new constitution. The first draft of the charter, presented last month, says, ''All nuclear activity on national territory will only be admitted for peaceful ends, subject to the approval of the National Congress.'' Prominent scientists say they are confident that the final draft of the constitution, due to be ready before the end of the year, will retain a ban on atomic bombs. Some politicians in the Constituent Assembly are more skeptical.

FARMERS FIGHT BACK. Some government officials have warned that the choice in Brazil is between land reform and peasant revolt. President Jose Sarney promised to resettle 1.4 million families by 1989, gradually splitting up the country's vast, undeveloped estates. Fewer than 20,000 families have been helped so far. An estimated 40,000 landowners descended on the capital Friday to have their say. Their aim: to pressure the Constituent Assembly to omit land reform from the constitution being drawn up.

NEW CONSTITUTION. The president will share power with a prime minister. The voters will choose the president, who can serve one five-year term. The National Assembly will select the prime minister from among members of the party holding the most seats. These are provisions of a new constitution for Haiti approved by a constituent assembly. A referendum is scheduled for March 29. ''This is the first time Haitian people will really get to decide what kind of government they will have,'' said Guy Latortue, one of the assembly's 60 members.

SCIENCE PROJECT. Brazilian scientists are leading a campaign to write a ''ban the bomb'' clause into the new constitution. The first draft of the charter, presented last month, says, ''All nuclear activity on national territory will only be admitted for peaceful ends, subject to the approval of the National Congress.'' Prominent scientists say they are confident that the final draft of the constitution, due to be ready before the end of the year, will retain a ban on atomic bombs. Some politicians in the Constituent Assembly are more skeptical.

KATMANDU, NEPAL---Nepal's governing assembly elected the country's first president Monday, rejecting a candidate backed by former Maoist rebels and creating political uncertainty for the new republic. The Constituent Assembly elected Ram Baran Yadav, a physician from the Madheshi ethnic community in southern Nepal, which has been campaigning for greater rights and more say in the administration, assembly Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung announced. Yadav's victory was a blow for the Maoists, who won the most seats in the assembly in April elections and hope to form the country's new government with one of their members as prime minister.

Resign. That was the word brought to Gen. Oscar Mejia Victores, Guatemala's chief of state, by three leading members of the Constituent Assembly. ''This is what all the people of Guatemala want,'' said German Scheel Montes, one of the legislators. There was no indication that Mejia would comply, and the assembly has no way of compelling him to. His chief of staff, Gen. Rodolfo Lobos Zamora, said rumors of an imminent change in leadership were ''absolutely not true.'' Guatemala was torn by violence last week.

General elections have been postponed by one week, from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3. Why: Nov. 1 is All Saints Day, an important holiday, and the government was concerned about turnout. The elections will be the first in almost four years. In case no presidential candidate wins a majority, a runoff will be held Dec. 8. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal will run the election. It also was in charge when 78.2 percent of registered voters turned out last July to elect a Constituent Assembly. That body is writing a constitution that will go into effect with the inauguration of the president on Jan. 14, 1986.